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Sony, Nintendo, Xbox, Other

Realistic Vs. Authentic Experience

RSS by Keith Sadler on 21 July 2010, 1635 views
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A Realistic Vs. An Authentic Experience
What is it about some games that immerse the player so heavily in their gameplay that they make a person say something like, “I really felt that!”
My feature today was going to be on the use of expensive peripherals to make a more ‘realistic’ experience but that didn’t seem to quite answer the question. I’ve always been a fan of racing games and there’s definitely a schism among the people between what people call a simulation racing game (your Forza Motorsport’s and your Gran Turismo’s) and your games which bear very little resemblance to reality, (Mario Kart and suchlike.) That is not to say that one style of game is superior to the other. One can have as authentically exciting an experience when rounding a corner to blast an enemy in half when playing Blur as you can when trying to edge out an opponent in Gran Turismo.
Do you need such simulation level detail as is found in Gran Turismo to have an authentic racing experience? No, but I dearly love the series. I dearly love that level of detail. On the PS2 I was playing Gran Turismo, watching the intro movie when my buddy’s mother walked in the room and asked us what TV show we were watching. I kind of loved that. 
I’m also a great fan of the Street Fighter series and especially their culmination ‘Super Street Fighter IV.’ There too exists a kind of authentic experience in being able to best your opponent.
Both Gran Turismo and the newest Street Fighter make excellent use of fairly expensive peripherals to help make this experience possible. If you mash the accelerator going around a corner trying to beat your opponent, you’ll zoom off-course. If you mash the buttons hoping for a victory in Street Fighter, you’ll lose to a player who knows how to distance herself. 
To me, this kind of finesse play requires the use of a racing wheel of some kind with foot pedals, or a fight stick. When you sit down to race, or to kick some butt, and you have your racing cockpit, or your instrument of death all set up and ready to go, you’re preparing your brain for a kind of authentic experience. These peripherals allow a person to evolve their game beyond a level than the standard controller easily permits. I have a friend who argues with me on this point, saying that he can kick about as much butt with the standard controller where as I shelled out triple digits for mine.
Can you have a really kick-butt level of play with the standard controller? Sure. Just like you could kick a fair amount of tush using only a spoon. If you replaced your spoon with a machete, you will definitely kick more butt.
Street Fighter can’t really be said to be a ‘simulation.’ There’s Blanka who full-on electrocutes people. But it does offer an experience similar to a real pugilistic bout, an authentic experience, if you will. So does Blur, even though you’re hurtling neon laser bombs at other people, there’s a kind of happy stress in getting it just right.
Does a person require a peripheral? No. Will their game be enhanced by it? Yes. Is such a purchase worth it? Well… too many variables to accurately calculate. For myself I’m still wrestling with whether I want to buy the mighty G27 racing wheel and set up, or a lesser expensive G25 or perhaps even less. I know I need at least a wheel, accelerator and brake pedals. I’m just not sure about all the rest. What do you guys think?

A Realistic Vs. An Authentic Experience

What is it about some games that immerse the player so heavily in their gameplay that they make a person say something like, “I really felt that!”?

My feature today was going to be on the use of expensive peripherals to make a more ‘realistic’ experience but that didn’t seem to quite answer the question. I’ve always been a fan of racing games, and there’s definitely a schism among the people between what people call a simulation racing game (Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo) and your games which bear very little resemblance to reality, (Mario Kart and suchlike). That is not to say that one style of game is superior to the other. One can have as authentically exciting an experience when rounding a corner to blast an enemy in half when playing Blur as you can when trying to edge out an opponent in Gran Turismo.

Do you need such simulation level detail as is found in Gran Turismo to have an authentic racing experience? No, but I dearly love the series. I dearly love that level of detail. On the PS2 I was playing Gran Turismo, watching the intro movie when my buddy’s mother walked in the room and asked us what TV show we were watching. I kind of loved that. 
I’m also a great fan of the Street Fighter series and especially their culmination Super Street Fighter IV. There too exists a kind of authentic experience in being able to best your opponent.

Both Gran Turismo and the newest Street Fighter make excellent use of fairly expensive peripherals to help make this experience possible. If you mash the accelerator going around a corner trying to beat your opponent, you’ll zoom off-course. If you mash the buttons hoping for a victory in Street Fighter, you’ll lose to a player who knows how to distance himself. 
To me, this kind of finesse play requires the use of a racing wheel of some kind with foot pedals, or a fight stick. When you sit down to race, or to kick some butt, and you have your racing cockpit, or your instrument of death all set up and ready to go, you’re preparing your brain for a kind of authentic experience. These peripherals allow a person to evolve their game beyond a level that the standard controller easily permits. I have a friend who argues with me on this point, saying that he can kick about as much butt with the standard controller where as I shelled out triple digits for mine.

Can you have a really kick-butt level of play with the standard controller? Sure. Just like you could kick a fair amount of tush using only a spoon. If you replaced your spoon with a machete, you will definitely kick more butt.

Street Fighter can’t really be said to be a ‘simulation;’ there’s Blanka who full-on electrocutes people. But it does offer an experience similar to a real pugilistic bout, an authentic experience, if you will. So does Blur - even though you’re hurling neonlaser bombs at other people, there’s a kind of happy stress in getting it just right.

Does a person require a peripheral? No. Will their game be enhanced by it? Yes. Is such a purchase worth it? Well… too many variables to accurately calculate. For myself I’m still wrestling with whether I want to buy the mighty G27 racing wheel and set up, or a lesser expensive G25... or perhaps even less. I know I need at least a wheel, accelerator and brake pedals. I’m just not sure about all the rest. What do you guys think?

Tags Street Fighter, Gran Turismo, Peripherals

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10 Comments

Kleeyook
Kleeyook (on 28 November 2010)

I'm fine with just a standard controller...not!
Seriously, I just don't have money to buy the complete setup just to play a racing game. The wheel isn't expensive, the problem is about the playseat for me.

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gtcarro
gtcarro (on 22 July 2010)

Gran Turismo 5 + Playseat + Logitech G25/27, will be the most realistic experience in video games history....

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kupomogli
kupomogli (on 22 July 2010)

I was just looking over the other stories and then just noticed this one said "realistic vs. authentic." When you're talking about using an accessory to give a life like experience, then realistic and authentic more or less have the same meaning.

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kupomogli
kupomogli (on 21 July 2010)

I'm a racing fan but I've never owned a racing wheel and pedals. I have used some before and it does indeed give the games an authentic experience. I just don't want to spend that kind of money on one.

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jfonty
jfonty (on 21 July 2010)

I like racing games but not to the extent of shelling out 100's for a wheel, however I did buy NFSS and GT5P on the cheap and bought a Logitech Driving Force Wireless wheel for £28, I'm happy and have shaved seconds off lap times. Love it when you feel the back end begin to slide and get it under control. (GT5P no assists and on pro.)

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binary solo
binary solo (on 21 July 2010)

Since you need a driving wheel to get the most out of GT5 (and FM2/3 I presume) then I'm not really in the market for GT5. I might get a used GT5P for really cheap after GT5 launches. Never owned a GT game before, though I do like racing games a wee bit. Who knows, if GT5P gets me excited I might just become a convert and end up getting GT5 and a wheel.

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AverageAsian
AverageAsian (on 21 July 2010)

I'm tempted to shell out for the G27, but the price tag is pretty steep for a peripheral. I think I'll just settle for the Driving Force GT simply because it's so much cheaper and will do a similar job to the G27.

If the G27 hits below $200, we'll have a serious dilemma. =P

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master69
master69 (on 21 July 2010)

i think i´ll buy the driving force GT for play GT5, its my first racing wheel so the DFGT its a good option, its for 129,99 on amazon.

the wheel was make for the game with PD so its must work fine

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koreanmatt
koreanmatt (on 21 July 2010)

Zedex, Logitech makes racing designed for GT series. If you're not that serious you could get Driving Force GT for around $150. Kinda outdated and hard to find is G25, I bet you can get a decent price on this.

If you're really serious you could shell out for G27 for around $300. But hey, why not get a Playseat Evolution when you're at it for another $300. Oh, you need to have a gear mount attachment too for $40. So total comes out to be $640 + game + tax.

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Zedex
Zedex (on 21 July 2010)

I too need a racin gwheel for november 2nd :D could anyone reccomend me one?

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